Tagged: Jon Lester
Saltalamacchia
His last name barely fits on his jersey, he
couldn’t throw the ball back to the pitcher last year, and he’s only hit
twenty-three home runs in his career. Yet, Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be catching Josh Beckett, Jon
Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, and Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2011.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was drafted by the
Atlanta Braves with the thirty-sixth pick in the 2003 draft, one pick before
Orioles all-star outfielder Adam Jones.
In 2006 with the braves class A
affiliate, the Rome Braves, Salty had his best year of his young career. He hit
.314, with nineteen home runs, and eighty-one runs batted in. After his
breakout season Baseball America ranked Saltalamacchia as the eighteenth best
prospect in Major League Baseball.
The following year, Saltalamacchia became
the starting catcher for the Mississippi Braves (AA). In twenty-two games,
Salty hit .373 with seven big flies.
The same year, in 2007 Saltalamacchia was
called up on his twenty-second birthday after an injury to Brian McCann and
then made his major league debut.
On July 31, 2007, also in the same year, Elvis
Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison, Beau Jones, and Saltalamacchia were
traded to the Texas Rangers for Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay.
Fast-forward three years latter and
Saltalamacchia was put on the disabled list after the first two games of the
2010 season. He was then sent down to AAA because he couldn’t do one of the
simplest things in baseball. Eventually and thankfully, Salty learned how to
throw the ball back to the pitcher.
On July 31, 2010 Jarrod Saltalamacchia
was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Chris McGuiness, Ramon Mendez, a player to be named later (Michael
Thomas), and some money. He was then sent to Pawtucket.
Saltalamacchia was eventually called up after
an injury to Kevin Cash. In his first appearance in the Red Sox starting line
up on August 12, Saltalamacchia went 2-4 with a run scored.
So far, in his time in Bean town, Salty went
just 3-19 (.158), with one RBI, two runs scored, and no home runs. Yet, despite
those stats, the Red Sox are letting Jarrod Saltalamacchia control one of the
best pitching staffs in baseball.
Pitching Problems?
or worried about this injury. If Dice-K did not get hurt he probably would have won twenty games last year.
One Guy Is Out, The Other Gets A Raise
All right no one got this because no one guessed!!! Come on guys. I gave you guys another hit below.
********************************************************************************************
A-Rod
All right this was kind of expected. Alex Rodriguez is out for six to nine weeks. Which is about two months. A-Roid will have “hybrid” surgery on his torn hip labrum. No one knows how this happened but it could have been caused by him taking steroids. I mean think of all the bad stuff steroids can do to you. They can cause liver damage, kidney damage, increase your blood pressure, and can weaken your bones. Just look at the diagram.
When you tear your hip labrum I think the femur pops out of the acetabular. I am not one hundred percent sure though. So it is possible that that steroids could have weekend the socket and the femur popped right out. Last year Mike Lowell had this. When he tried to play with it he said it was incredibly painful. So maybe Lowell called up A-Rod and said you should do the surgery. On second thought Lowell would probably never call A-Rod.
So now the Yankees have a problem. Who will be their starting third baseman? Well they could just use what they have right now. Cody Ransom is very promising. In 43 at bats he hit four home runs last year. Angel Berroa also could get the spot. Last season in 84 games with the Dodgers last year he had sixteen RBI’s and one home run. Knowing how the Yankees operate I doubt that will happen.
I believe that the Yankees will make a trade, maybe for Bobby Crosby. Crosby was said that he wanted a trade because he would not be the starting shortstop since the A’s signed Orlando Cabrera. Last season with Oakland he hit .237 with seven home runs, 61 RBI’s, and seven stolen bases. Crosby might like New York at first playing for the Yankees. Then though A-Rod would come back and Crosby would become a utility man. I am also not sure that Crosby can handle the New York media. He has only played six major league seasons and Oakland is a lot different then New York.
The Yankees could also trade for Blake DeWitt. DeWitt also got pushed out of his starting spot after the Dodgers signed Orlando Hudson. Last season was DeWitt’s first and in 117 games he hit .264 with nine home runs, and 52 RBI’s. I am sure DeWitt would like more playing time but I do not think he wants to go to New York. DeWitt is only 23 years old and like Crosby he is to young to handle the media and fans in New York. I mean he might get more coverage then C.C. Sabathia. Imagine how much pressure you would have on you if you were Alex Rodriguez’s replacement.
Probably the most likely trade the Yankees could would be for Mark Teahen. Teahen is mostly a right-fielder but can also play left, third, and second. That could help the Yankees a ton. Sure the Yankees already have to many outfielders but still he is a good utility player. In 2008 Teahen batted .255 with fifteen home runs, 59 RBI’s, and four stolen bases in 149 games. Teahen is about Crosby’s age and Kansas City is a lot different then New York. Still though I have seen Teahen play twice and from what I have seen on the field and in the dugout I believe he could handle the pressures in New York. I do not think it will be the best job handling the pressure gut he van deal with it.
Jon Lester
Jon Lester apparently has agreed to a five year extension with the Red Sox. The deal is worth $30 million dollars and includes a team-option for 2014 worth $14 million dollars. The deal will become official on Tuesday when he takes his physical. This is why the Red Sox will beat the Yankees this year. Boston cares about chemistry and tries to lock up their young stars. The Yankees do not care about chemistry and if one player who has been with the team for twenty years and is a great influence in the clubhouse, then has one bad season the Yankees will trade him or let him go. Chemistry wins championships not talent. Do not believe me? Go look at team USA from 2006 and then look at this years WBC team. Yah, thats what I though. The Red Sox have signed Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis to long term deals. I love this deal. Lester is my pick to win the American League Cy Young this year. I know people are going to say I am biased but whatever. Lester just turned 25 on January seventh. He has already thrown a no-hitter, survived cancer, won a World Series, and won the 2008 Hutch Award. He also pitched one of the last shutouts at Yankee Stadium.In 2008 Lester had his breakout year going sixteen for six with 152 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA. One thing is for sure. He has had heck of a carer already.
********************************************************************************************
All right today’s hint to the question “Who pitched the first no-hitter in baseball history under lights?” Remember that this is the whole history of baseball not just MLB. Also remember that I have know this answer my whole life. Those are some big hints. Anyway today’s hint is he has a common last name and played for the Kansas City Blues and Indianapolis Indians.
Photo Credits
1- revolutionrumblings.wordpress.com
2- hss.edu
3- vivaelbirdos.com
4- pe.com
5- news.bbc.co.uk
6- sportsillustrated.com
7- cbc.ca
8- redsoxgirl46.mlblogs.com
Pettitte Stays in Pinstripes, While Varitek is do This Week
Andy Pettitte, 36, signed a one year, $5.5 million dollar deal with the Yankees. The deal could be worth up to $12 million dollars if he reaches all of his incentives. Contracts with incentives are the best contracts, you can’t overpay or underpay a player who has incentives in the contract. Pettitte was 14-14 last season with a 4.54 ERA. He also had 158 strikeouts in 33 games, 204 innings pitched. Pettitte played nine seasons with the Yankees before joining the Houston Astros from 2004-2006 and then went back to the Yankees after the 2006 season. The Yankees rotation is now set to be C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Chein-Ming Wang, Pettitte, and then Joba Chamberlain. I think Phil Hughes should be the fifth starter and not Joba. Joba went 3-1 this season as a starter. Joba needs to stay in the bullpen so in a few years when Mariano Rivera retires Joba can become the closer, but I am getting off track. In order for Pettitte to come back on to the roster the Yankees designated Chase Wright for assignment. Wright went 10-3 this season at Double-A and Triple-A
Young Guns- Red Sox
This is a new series I like to call, Young Guns. I will look at the youngest, best, and most promising player on each team. This series will not be every day. I could put two up on the same day, zero in a week, or nine in three days. So I’m going to start with the Boston Red Sox.
Glavine to Boston?!?
Tom Glavine a low risk high reward player said he felt good after throwing of the mound for the first time since elbow and shoulder surgery in August. Glavine is a local guy according to Julia (Julia your “dream” came true) over at Julia’s Rants. Glavine’s longtime teammate John Smoltz recently signed with the Red Sox. Glavine, a free agent, made thirteen starts last season. He went two and four, with 37 strikeouts, and a ERA 5.54. Tom Glavine is 42 years old. Glavine is a sure first ballot hall of famer he has 305 carer wins, an ERA of 3.54, and has 2,607 strikeouts. Glavine has played twenty-two seasons with the Braves on two different occasions and the New York Mets. He has won twenty games five times. While Glavine is a great player and I am sure he would love to go to the Red Sox, but Boston already has eight starters in Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Dice-K, Tim Wakefield, Brad Penny, Smoltz, Clay Buchholz, and Michael Bowden. Smoltz though could come out of the bullpen and I think Clay could too. As for Bowden he’ll come up from AAA in mid-season. He would probably cost a around the amount of Smoltz and is better. Am I saying that I would rather have Glavine then Smoltz? No, Smoltz will not pitch till June but he can be a starter or come out of the bullpen which I wish every pitcher could. Glavine will should sign with a team with young pitchers, the Rays, Twins, A’s, D-Backs, Reds, Pirates, Brewers, Nationals, Marlins, or maybe even the Padres. he also could resign with the Braves who have signed Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami. The Braves also traded for former Chicago White Sox, Javier Vazquez. Vazquez is listed as the Braves ace on Braves.com don’t get that one. I would put my money on the Brewers or the Braves. The Brewers lost C.C. Sabathia to the Yankees. Ben Sheets, the other Brewers ace is still on the market. One game I would love to see, Red Sox vs. Brewers, Jon Smoltz vs. Tom Glavine, at Fenway Park.
Progress With Varitex
First- Manny and the Dodgers are still just talking.
Baldelli, Penny, Smoltz, Saito, and Kotsay
First- Sorry I didn’t blog the past few days, I had a ton of home work.
Red Sox, Yankees, Rays- Rotation
First- WOW! Today is the slowest day in sports ever. So slow I was going to put this story up around spring training.
Top 5 Baseball Moments of 2008
Happy New Year’s eve. On the last day of 2008 I thought I would look back at the year of baseball.
Bostonball 